Sports45 FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 Manchester United owner Malcolm Glazer dies at 85 TAMPA: Malcolm Glazer, the controversial American owner of English giants Manchester United, died Wednesday. He was 85. Glazer-the son of a Lithuanian immi- grant who went on to build an diverse business empire- gained a global profile through his ownership of United, one of the world’s biggest and best supported football clubs. But he was deeply unpopular with hardcore United fans after loading the club with hundreds of millions of dollars in debt following a 2005 buyout. His death was announced on the website of the American football team, one of his other sports franchises. “The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are saddened to announce the passing of Owner/President Malcolm Glazer earlier this morning at the age of 85,” the statement said. “A dynamic business leader, Glazer helped mold the Buccaneers into a model franchise and one respected league-wide.” Under Glazer’s stewardship of the Buccaneers, the NFL team enjoyed its first Super Bowl success in 2002. “Malcolm Glazer was the guiding force behind the building of a Super Bowl-champion organization,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday. Shares of Manchester United slipped sharply on the New York Stock Exchange after Glazer’s death was announced but finished the day unchanged in thin trade at $16.30. Glazer’s death is not expected to have any bearing on the ownership of the club, with his family retaining a 90 percent holding in United. His sons Joel and Avram Glazer continue to serve as co-chairmen of the club. Another SEOUL: Tunisia’s Stephane Houcine Nater (left) fights for the ball against South Korea’s Park Chuyong during their son, Bryan, remains on the United board. “The thoughts of friendly soccer match at World Cup stadium in Seoul, South Korea, on Wednesday, May 28, 2014. South Korea will play everyone at Manchester United are with his family tonight,” against Belgium, Russia and Algeria in Group H of the World Cup 2014 in Brazil. — AP the Premier League club said Wednesday. United fans still angry Injury forces S Korea Glazer’s 2005 takeover of United in a leveraged $1.2 billion buyout triggered widespread protests amongst the club’s fans. Although Glazer’s reign coincided with a glut of silver- ware-including five Premier League crowns and the 2008 into defensive change Champions League title-he remained a hate figure for many supporters. Manchester United Supporters’ Trust vice-chair SEOUL: German-based defender Park tive news about central defender Hong The Mainz defender had a strong first Sean Bones said: “It would be inappropriate for me to make Joo-ho was called into the South Korea Jeong-ho, who was forced off in the season in Germany after switching from any comment about the death of Malcolm Glazer as I didn’t World Cup squad yesterday after first 13th minute of Wednesday’s 1-0 home Swiss side Basel and his initial snub from know him or his family personally. “However, as a supporter, I choice left back Kim Jin-su was forced to loss to Tunisia with an ankle problem. the World Cup squad was one of the am aware of the detrimental effect the Glazers have had on drop out of the 23 because of an ankle Hong left the field on a stretcher but, main talking points amongst fans and the football club and the huge debt that has been placed on ligament injury. Kim, 21, suffered the after scans yesterday, Song said he local media. Head coach Hong Myung- Manchester United. injury playing for Japanese club Albirex expected the Augsburg defender to be bo said he left the 27-year-old out “Malcolm Glazer wasn’t a board member and his children Niigata earlier this month with the back within a week. “He has a bruise because he had been suffering foot are on the board, so I don’t think that situation changes Koreans deciding against surgery in the under his skin. He was hit hard by the inflammation since the conclusion of much.” Some fans took to club forums to call for a respectful hope he could recover in time ahead of tackle and thankfully his ankle was not the Bundesliga season earlier this reaction. One user on fan site RedCafe wrote: “say what you their opening game in Brazil against twisted,” the doctor said. The Koreans month. will... but he presided over the most successful period in the Russia on June 17. But those hopes were will be thankful their leaky defence, Song said that was all cleared up now clubs history”, while another urged fellow supporters to “keep dashed late on Wednesday, leaving which was badly exposed by the and the fullback would be ready to play it sensible”, saying the death was “bound to be a flashpoint Mainz defender Park to battle Yun Suk- Africans, was not hit further. Forward in their final pre-World Cup friendly for some fans.” “I would hope most of our fans will be able to young of Queens Park Rangers for the Zouheir Dhaouadi was given far too against Ghana in Miami on June 9. retain some level of civility, in spite of the general feeling starting place in Brazil. much freedom as he burst through the “What is important about this injury, cel- towards what he and his family have done with regards to the “Unlike knee ligament injuries, those heart of the hosts from deep to score lulitis, is whether it would recur or not club’s finances,” wrote one supporter. around ankles do not necessitate sur- the only goal shortly before halftime to and at the time the entry was made Fans have complained that Glazer’s ownership model has gery so we opted to go through treat- upset the 50,000 home fans who had public the medical team was not sure if forced United to spend millions of pounds servicing the club’s ment without surgery,” team doctor come for the Seoul send off. it’d relapse,” he said. “But after one week debt-money which could have been spent in strengthening Song Jun-seob told reporters in Seoul Yun started the match at left back after the entry was announced on May United’s playing staff.—AFP yesterday. “We did our best to treat the despite fears of jet lag after arriving late 8, we removed the stitches as it was fully injury till yesterday but we concluded from England because of club commit- healed and since then Park has been after a meeting last night that one of the ments, but Park will be hopeful of usurp- working on the rehabilitation program ligaments won’t be healed till the World ing him in Brazil, where the Koreans also under the guidance of our medical team Cup.” The Koreans received more posi- face Algeria and Belgium in Group H. and it’s been successful.”— Reuters

Palestine and Philippines fight for Asian Cup berth

MALE: Palestine and the Philippines are Thomas Dooley said his team, ranked 140 by-step. “And right now the biggest thing looking to make history when they clash in in the world and 21st in Asia, were confi- we can do is prepare the team to write his- the AFC Challenge Cup final today to book dent of facing the challenge successfully to tory.” Palestine coach Jamal Mahmoud said a place in next year’s Asian Cup in Australia. show the world they belonged to a higher beating Afghanistan in the semi-finals had Neither team has ever played in the conti- grade in football. “We want to play at the brought his team closer to realizing their nent’s showpiece, adding extra edge to the next level, that is not a secret,” said Dooley. dream of performing on the big stage. “It is title clash under lights at the national stadi- “We came to the Maldives to win the not enough to be playing in the final, we SAN DIEGO: In this file photo, Tampa Bay Buccaneers own- um in Male which earns the champions a Challenge Cup and are one step away from have to win it too,” said Mahmoud, whose er Malcolm Glazer celebrates the Bucs’ 48-21 victory over journey down under. Palestine upset fan- doing that. 34th-ranked side in Asia have not conceded the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego. cied Afghanistan 2-0 and the Philippines “But our biggest goal is to step up and a goal in four games so far in the tourna- Glazer, the self-made billionaire who owned the NFL’s ousted hosts Maldives 3-2 in extra-time in play with the big guys in the Asian Cup. ment. The winners will join defending Tampa Bay Buccaneers and English soccer’s Manchester Tuesday’s semi-finals, leaving both the win- When you play, and believe in it, you will be champions Japan, Jordan and Iraq in group United, has died. He was 85. —AP ning coaches excited. Philippines coach successful so that’s why we are going step- D of the Asian Cup in January.—AFP